Over the last couple of months, there’s been lots of back and forth on the whole to wear or not to wear a mask.

Yet, the recent proclamation is that masks should be worn at all times while out and about or when tending to a sick person.

Alright, sounds good.

Of course, with a shortage of hospital-staff relegated masks — such as N95 respirator masks and medical masks — that leaves most of us to our own devices with old t-shirts, bandanas, and store-bought material. Luckily, there have been some truly diligent folks — along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — hard at work creating easy-to-follow designs and how-to YouTube videos for all of us.

How Do Face Masks Protect Us?

When it comes to understanding how face masks work, it’s important to understand how COVID-19 is transmitted.

You’re probably already aware that the virus travels via bodily fluids — such as spit — but did you know that COVID-19 is now known to travel via aerosols?

An aerosol is defined “as a suspension of particles in the atmosphere,” which can be “both human-made and [stem from] natural sources.” Think about your hairspray or cologne and picture that fine mist produced when you expel the contents of the bottle. That’s a form of a human-made aerosol. According to research, SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes the disease COVID-19 — “can survive in the air for several hours in fine particles,” also called aerosols. In fact, the virus can survive in the air for up to “[three] hours after aerosolization and can infect cells throughout that time period.”

Face masks are meant to cover the areas of the face where spit and mucous can escape become aerosols and infect others. Therefore, it’s not so much about the mask that you’re wearing protecting you, but the masks that others are wearing.

The Case for Everyone Wearing Masks

At first, we were being told to not wear a face mask unless you yourself were sick or were caring for a sick person. Then, things got flip-flopped, and now we’re being asked to wear a mask at all times when out and about.

It’s all based on new findings that SARS-CoV-2 “can be spread by presymptomatic and asymptomatic carriers.” First, it can be spread by those who have contracted the virus but are not showing symptoms yet, which can take up to 14 days. Second, there are some people contracted the virus but don’t show any symptoms and maybe never will.

Plus, SARS-CoV-2 is incredibly easy to transmit.

Even if you’ve been self-isolating for weeks on end, you still get groceries delivered, receive mail, maybe have take out once-in-awhile, or even go on walks in your neighborhood. All of these exposures provide ample opportunity to contract the virus given that it can survive anywhere from 48 hours to a week on certain surfaces such as cardboard, steel, and plastic.

It’s not necessarily meant to protect you from the virus — even though, if worn properly, a mask very well could do just that — but it’s meant to protect other, potentially high-risk folks, from you. Masks are incredibly effective at catching those spit and mucous droplets from sneezing, coughing, or simply talking, containing them within the covered area and removing the threat of them becoming aerosolized and infecting those around you.

How to Wear a Mask

The key to steering clear of the virus via a face mask is proper usage. This includes not only wearing the mask appropriately but also refraining from touching your face with your hands, removing the mask, and keep up with personal hygiene such as hand sanitizer and washing.

Also, remember that face masks don’t cover your eyes, which is yet another portal for aerosol particles to enter the body. Therefore, if you’re looking for full protective coverage, put on some sunglasses or clear glasses paired with your mask.

Bandana Mask

Another popular, no-sew method! All you need:

Bandana (or square cotton cloth approximately 20”x20”)

Rubber bands (or hair ties)

Scissors (if you are cutting your own cloth)

Take your bandana and get folding! Fold it in half, then fold the top down and the bottom up, leaving you with a single thick strip of fabric. Put those rubber bands around the strip of bandana at least six inches apart. Fold the loose sides into the middle and tuck them into one another. The rubber bands will strap around your ears to secure the bandana mask to your face. You’re set!

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